Device for measuring the width or diameter of fixed or movable tapes and wires



Jan. 23, 1962 o. H. INGBER 3,017,801

DEVICE FOR MEASURING THE WIDTH OR DIAMETER OF FIXED OR MOVABLE TAPES AND WIRES Filed Nov. 25, 1958 17 Sheets-Sheet 1 Fioai o Jan. 23, 1962 o. H. INGBER 3,017,801

DEVICE FOR MEASURING THE WIDTH OR DIAMETER 1 OF FIXED OR MOVABLE TAPES AND WIRES Filed Nov. 25, 1958 1'7 Sheets-Sheet 2 0 8 a 7 1 0 3 m T S m I I W m S REE EWP. B A sm E N L .lm H V 0 Jan. 23, 1962 DEVICE FOR MEASURIN OF FIXED OR MO Filed NOV. 25, 1958 17 Sheets-Sheet 3 Jan. 23, 1962 Filed Nov. 25, 1958 O. H. INGBER DEVICE FOR MEASURING THE WIDTH OR DIAMETER OF FIXED OR MO VABLE TAPES AND WIRES l7 Sheets-Sheet 4 Jan. 23, 1962 H INGBER 3,017,801

0. DEVICE FOR MEASURING THE WIDTH OR DIAMETER OF FIXED OR MOVABLE TAPES AND WIRES Filed Nov. 25, 1958 1'7 Sheets-Sheet 5 in a Inum Jan. 23, 1962 o. H. INGBER 3,017,801

DEVICE FOR MEASURING THE WIDTH OR DIAMETER OF FIXED OR MOVABLE TAPES AND WIRES l7 Sheets-Sheet 6 Filed Nov. 25, 1958 a 3, 96 H INGBER 3,017,801

0- DEVICE FOR MEASURING, THE WIDTH OR DIAMETER 0F FIXED OR MOVABLE TAPES AND WIRES Filed Nov. 25, 1958- I 1.7 Sheets-Sheet '7 45 53 52 WWW mm W WWW! 51 51 I 5021 4%: Flg126. 46a n H '44 46a 59 57-H 56 5 L 0 60*" l U 55 mfi w 64 (A I 58 F1g.30 E[\58a /57a 64 6h 59a 62 5 g 5 9 mm j Jan. 23, 1962 o. H. INGBER 3,017,801

DEVICE FOR MEASURING THE WIDTH 0R DIAMETER OF FIXED OR MOVABLE TAPES AND WIRES Filed Nov. 25, 1958 17 Sheets-Sheet 8 Jan. 23, 1962 H. INGBER 3,017,801

DEVICE FOR MEASURING THE WIDTH 0R DIAMETER OF FIXED 0R MOVABLE TAPES AND WIRES FiledNov. 25, 1958 17 Sheets-Sheet 9 I l l l I l l I l I I 1 I I 1 I I l l I I I I Jan. 23, 1962 o. H. INGBER 3,017,801

; DEVICE FOR MEASURING THE WIDTH OR DIAMETER OF FIXED 0R MOVABLE TAPES AND WIRES Filed Nov. 25, 1958 l7 Sheets-Sheet l0 Fio" 102 Jan. 23, 1962 'N BER 3,017,801

0. H. I G DEVICE FOR MEASURING THE WIDTH OR DIAMETER 0F FIXED OR MOVABLE TAPES AND WIRES Filed Nov. 25} 1958 17 Sheets-Sheet 11 Jam 23, 1962 o. H. INGBER 3,017,801

DEVICE FOR MEASURING THE WIDTH OR DIAMETER 0F FIXED OR MOVABLE TAPES AND WIRES 17 Sheets-Sheet 12 Filed Nov. 25, 1958 H. INGBER DEVICE FOR MEASURING THE WIDTH OR DIAMETER Jan. 23, 1962 OF FIXED 0R MOVABLE TAPES AND WIRES l7 Sheets-Sheet 13 Filed Nov. 25, 1958 Jan. 23, 1962 o. H. INGBER 3,017,801

DEVICE FOR MEASURING THE; WIDTH 0R DIAMETER OF FIXED OR MOVABLE TAPES AND WIRES Filed Nov. 25, 1958 17 Sheets-Sheet 14 T Jam. 23, 1962 o. H. INGBER 3,017,801

DEVICE FOR MEASURING THE WIDTH 0R DIAMETER 0F FIXED 0R MOVABLE TAPES AND WIRES 1'7 Sheets-Sheet 15 Filed Nov. 25,. 1958 Jan. 23, 1962 o. H. INGBER mzvxcz FOR MEASURING THE WIDTH OR DIAMETER OF FIXED OR MO VABLE TAPES AND WIRES 17 Sheets-Sheet 16 Filed Nov. 25, 1958 D cw mmn mad MNH

Jan. 23, 1962 o. H. INGBER 3,017,801

DEVICE FOR MEASURING THE WIDTH OR DIAMETER OF FIXED OR MOVABLE TAPES AND WIRES Filed Nov. 25. 1958 17 Sheets-Sheet 17 United States 3,017,801 DEVICE FOR MEASURING THE WIDTH R DIAM- ETER 0F FIXED 0R MOVABLE TAPES AND WIRES Oscar Henri Ingher, Blvd. du General Koenig, Neuilly-sur-Seine, France Filed Nov. 25, 1958, Ser. No. 776,307 Claims priority, application France Nov. 29, 1957 3 Claims. (Cl. 88-14) This invention relates in general to the measurement of the transverse dimension, i.e. the apparent width or diameter, of tapes, wires or cables, tubes, bars, etc. and has specific reference to an apparatus for effecting this measurement, for example on material either stationary or travelling continuously at a relatively high speed in the direction of its main longitudinal axis, even if the material undergoing the measurement is subjected to transverse vibration. More particularly, this device may be used for measuring the diameters of metal wires, tubes or cables during their manufacture, in order to maintain their transverse dimensions to a constant value through the medium of adequate control means actuated either by hand or automatically by the apparatus itself. The high velocity of travel of the objects thus measured (the following description referring only to wires or tapes taken by way of example of any other objects adapted to be measured by the device of this invention, in order to simplify the disclosure thereof) makes it obviously impossible to use the obsolete method of measuring their dimensions by means of so-called mechanical feelers controlling through mechanical, hydraulic or pneumatic transmission means a pointer or index, as the latter would be liable to hardly controllable rebound, not to mention the distortion likely to be caused by this feeler in the shape of the material to be measured, for example during the setting of the sheath of a cable.

According to this invention the apparatus for measuring the apparent transverse dimension of an object such as wire, cable, tube or tape driven for continuous longitudinal movement and likely to undergo transverse vibration during the measurement, is characterized in that it comprises an emitter of a luminous flux and a photoelectric receiver of said luminous flux passing through the field occupied by the object, at least one main diaphragm disposed between the emitter and the receiver, an optical system forming the image of the object to be measured on the main diaphragm, electrical circuit means for converting the variable luminous flux received by said photoelectric receiver, as a consequence of the variation in the transverse dimension of the object, into a variable electrical quantity and means for modifying the luminous flux transmitted through the diaphragm and thus restore the measured value to a fixed value, said means showing simultaneously the measure of the dimension of said ob ect.

The apparatus according to this invention is adapted generally to permit the direct or indirect reading of the measured value without the assistance of any calibrating, gaging, or adjustment means and without any handling, in a manner completely independent of the general conditions of operation such as temperature, pressure, room illumination, mains voltage fed to the apparatus, wear of light sources and amplifying tubes, etc.

The manner in which the invention may be carried out under practical conditions will now be explained with reference to the attached drawings forming part of this specification and illustrating diagrammatically by way of example different forms of embodiment of the apparatus of this invention. In the drawings:

FIGURE 1 is a comprehensive block diagram of the apparatus, 1

3,017,801 Patented Jan. 23, 1&62

FIGURE 2 is a block diagram of another form of em bodiment of the apparatus.

FIGURE 3 is a block diagram of another form of embodiment of the apparatus.

FIGURE 4 is a block diagram of another form of one bodiment of the apparatus.

FIGURE 5 is a block diagram of another form of embodiment of the apparatus.

FIGURE 6 is a diagram illustrating a modified form of embodiment of the apparatus of this invention which comprises a modulating member.

FIGURES 7 and 8 illustrate diagrammatically the superposition of a modulator disc, a diaphragm and the image of the object to be measured in two different cases.

FIGURE 9 illustrates the shape of the signal picked up in the case shown in FIG. 8.

FIGURE 10 is an elevational view of a modulator disc.

FIGURE 11 is a longitudinal section taken upon the line XI-XI of FIG. 10.

FIGURE 12 is a fragmentary diagrammatic view of a modified modulator disc.

FIGURE 13 is a diagram showing the signals likely to be obtained in this case.

FIGURES 14 to 17 illustrate diiferent forms of discs and diaphragms.

FIGURE 18 shows the signals corresponding to the diaphragm of FIG. 17.

FIGURES 19 and 20 illustrate a modified form of the disc and diaphragm, on the one hand, and the corresponding signals, on the other hand.

FIGURE 21 shows another modified diaphragm.

FIGURE 22 shows diagrammatically another apparatus. FIGURES 23 and 24 on the one hand and FIG- URES 25 and 26 on the other hand are a plane view and a cross-section respectively of two similar devices permitting the sliding movement and the detent positioning the one of a system of prisms and the other of the lens system of the apparatus.

FIGURES 27 and 28 are a front view and a side view respectively of a wire-guiding device.

FIGURE 29 is a section taken upon the line XXIX XXIX of FIG. 27.

FIGURE 30 is a sectional view taken along the line XXXXXX of FIG. 28.

FIGURE 31 is a block diagram illustrating the principle of the electronic operation and mounting of the apparatus of this invention, the resulting output signal being shown adjacent to each element.

FIGURE 32 shows the details of the dilferent component elements of this mounting.

FIGURE 33 is an elevational view showing the optical and mechanical section of another device constructed according to the teachings of this invention.

FIGURE 34 is a plane view of the device shown in FIG. 33.

FIGURE 35 is a block diagram showing the principle of an electric mounting corresponding to this device.

FIGURES 36 and 37 are electrical circuit diagrams concerning the apparatus shown in FIGS. 33 to 35.

FIGURE 38 is a block diagram showing the principle of another form of embodiment of this electrical mounting.

FIGURE 39 shows the electrical circuitry of this modified form of embodiment.

FIGURE 40 is a block diagram showing the principle of a device for continuously indicating average dimen- SlOIlS.

FIGURE 41 is the diagram of the electrical circuit of this device.

In the different figures of the drawings the same or similar elements are designated by the same reference numerals.

The apparatus illustrated in FIG. 1 of the drawing comprises a luminous fiux emitter E consisting of a light source 11 followed by a condenser 12 for effecting the uniform illumination of an optical field in the vicinity of a movable fraction of the object to be measured 13, for example a wire or tape. The image of the field containing the object to be measured is formed through the medium of an optical system 14 on the surface of a diaphragm 15. The light flux forming this image is finally collected by a photoelectric receiver R comprising a condenser 16 and photoelectric cell (termed hereafter photocell to simplify the disclosure) 17 followed by an amplifier 18. The variation in the photoelectric current generated by the photocell 17 which depends on the variation in the dimension of the object to be measured 13 is used for providing directly through the measuring instrument 19 an indication of the dimension of the object to be measured in which the aforesaid variation or change has occurred.

The transparency of the diaphragm 15 or the width thereof may be adjusted by means of a blade 99 displaceable manually by rotating a pointer 97, if desired, for restoring the value of the output current from amplifier 18 or the indication of the measuring instrument 19 to a fixed value. In this case the magnitude of the change thus introduced in the measurement permits an indirect showing but a direct reading of the variation in the dimensions of the object to be measured on the graduated scale 97a.

In FIG. 2 a servomotor 96 fed with the output current from the amplifier 18 drives the blade 99 to compensate the variations occurring in this current. The dimensional changes are shown by the pointer 98 displaceable along the measurement scale 98a.

In FIG. 3 the light source illuminates through the intermediary of mirrors 95, 95a and condensers 12, 12a a pair of diaphragms 15, 15a of which only one, the diaphragm 15, receives through it the image of the object 13 to be measured, the other diaphragm 15a receiving therethrough the image, formed by the optical system 14a of a similar object 13a having a fixed and calibrated or reference dimension. The two fluxes flowing through the diaphragms 15 and 15a are received through condensers 16, 16a by a pair of photocells 17, 17a mounted in opposite relationship and adapted to produce an output current of zero value from the amplifier 18. The variation in the dimension of the object 13 to be measured causes an output current to appear. The latter is reduced to zero by a variation in the transparency due to the provision of a photometric wedge-type weakener or fader 91 interposed behind one of the diaphragms, in this case the diaphragm 15a, and controlled by the aforesaid servomotor 16. This last variation will thus permit the indication of the modification in the dimension of the object to be measured, the measurement being independent of the luminous intensity of the source 11.

The photometric wedge-type weakener 91 may be replaced by any other element, for example crossed polarizers, adapted to cause the transparency of the diaphragm 15a to vary.

In FIG. 4 the apparatus of this invention difiers from the embodiment shown in FIG. 3 in that it comprises a single cell 18, a blade-type shutter 90 adapted alternately to mask the two diaphragms 15, 15a, and a pair of mirrors 94, 94a for alternately reflecting towards this cell the light fluxes having passed through the diaphragms 15, 15a. Under these conditions the measurement is permitted by the alternating current at the shutter cutoff frequency. Thus, it is possible in this case to restore the alternating component of the output current to zero by providing a cyclical or directed, hand-controlled or automatic modification of the conditions of operation, notably of the width of one of the diaphragms as set forth hereinabove.

In FIG. the shutter consists of an analyzer 89 rotating about the optical axis and permitting the alternate passage of the fluxes polarized in two planes at right angles to each other by the polarizers 93 and 93a. It comprises in addition an amplifier 18 tuned to the shutter alternation frequency and a phase discriminator 92 actuating a servomotor 96 driving a blade 99 to change the width of one of the diaphragms, for example diaphragm 15, and simultaneously displacing an index 98 along the scale 98a indicating the diameter or width of the object to be measured.

The apparatus illustrated in FIG. 6 comprises a light source 11 illuminating through the medium of a condenser 12 a movable wire 13. The image 5 of the wire is formed by an optical system 14 on the surface of a modulator disc 2 driven from the motor 20 and formed with radial slots 4. According to a modified form of embodiment a cylinder formed through its peripheral wall with slots parallel to the generatrices may be substituted for the disc 2. The light flux having passed through the disc 2 and diaphragm 15 is subsequently collected by a condenser 16 on a photocell 17 followed by an alternating current amplifier 18 and a measuring instrument 19.

The disc 2 is formed with peripheral teeth 3 of same width as the slots 4 with which they alternate, these teeth moving past and behind the diaphragm 15 limited in the radial direction by the lines 1 and the image 5 of the object to be measured. If the pitch (i.e. the width of one tooth plus that of one slot assumed to be of same width) of the modulator disc is equal to the width of the object image the edges of which are parallel to those of the slots as shown in FIG. 7, the variations in the flux portions transmitted by one fraction of the modulator disc in the vicinity of the two edges of the image are equal and opposite, and therefore the aggregate fiux is blocked by the assembly consisting of the modulator disc and the wire image remains constant in spite of the disc movement, for example in the direction of the arrow 6.

In the case illustrated in FIG. 8, it is assumed on the contrary that the image 5 of the object to be measured is wider than the pitch of the modulator disc. This image may be considered as consisting of a partial image having the width of the pitch 7 plus a complementary image 8, these images being separated by a line 9. The first partial image similar to that of FIG. 7 does not give any resultant signal. The complementary image produces a signal proportional to the flux variation quantity which would be blocked by the portion 8 alone due to its movement in the direction of the arrow 10 which is opposite to the direction of travel 6 of the modulator disc. This signal shown in FIG. 9 consists of a series of trapezoidal pulses the duration and amplitude of which are proportional to the width of the partial image 8.

The simultaneous displacement of the disc 2 and lens 14 along the optical axis of the system is adapted to cause the magnification of the apparatus to vary until the width of the wire image 5 becoming equal to that of the pitch of the modulator disc the alternating photoelectric current is zero, as already explained. From the displacement of the'mmebers for positioning the lens system 14 and disc 2 which is necessary for obtaining this specific magnification of the wire image, it is possible to determine the wire diameter which may be indicated for example by the pointer 23 of the slider 21 solid with the lens system and by the pointer carried by the other slider 22 of the motor 20 and disc 2, these pointers travelling past the scale 24.

According to a modified form of embodiment of the device the effect of reducing the current to zero may be obtained by modifying the width of the slots and teeth of the modulator disc (or of the useful portion of these slots). This current reduction may be obtained by utilizing a modulator disc 2 formed with relatively long radial slots 2a (see FIGS. 10 and 11) in combination with an auxiliary but stationary disc 88 superposed on and coaxial to the disc 2. The angular position of the auxiliary disc 88 may be adjusted manually, if desired. The disc 88 is formed with a relatively narrow transparent spiral aperture 88a separating, in front of a stationary radial gate 87 (having the shape of a narrow circular sector) substantially parallel to the edge of the image of the wire to be measured, one portion of the modulator disc 2 which is more or less close to its center and wherein the slots and teeth have therefore different widths.

According to another modification illustrated in FIG. 12 the modulator disc 2 may comprise a plurality of slots 4 and teeth 3 of unequal widths, notably of a regularly increasing width along an are covering one portion or the whole of the circumference of the modulator disc or cylinder. The photoelectric signals become null or assume a minimum value when said disc is in a certain angular position wherein the width of the above-defined pitch becomes close to that of the image of the object to be measured, and it is possible to mark this width by means of a stroboscopic lamp or a time-check lamp illuminated under the influence of the photoelectric signal when the latter attains its minimum value, this last-mentioned value being determined by means of an adequate electrical mounting or circuit of which a typical form will be described presently. The rotary disc may comprise one or more scales 26 moving past a stationary pointer 27 indicating the wire diameter due to the stroboscopic effect when the width of the wire image becomes substantially equal to the pitch value of the modulator disc. Thus, a discontinuous indication of the values to be measured, which are definitely independent of the conditions of operation, for example the luminous intensity of the light source, the normal wear of the amplifying tubes, etc, is obtained.

When the above-described apparatus is utilized for measuring an object the dimension of which varies at a fast rate, the different figures appear under the pointer during a relatively short time period and therefore cannot be easily read. Under these conditions, other specific means for indicating the desired variation values must be used for measuring fast-varying magnitudes, according to the methods set forth hereinabove.

When the measured magnitude is subjected to rapid variations it is well on the one hand to permit a more frequent reading of the value indicated by the apparatus by replacing the successive appearances of the different figures in front of a fixed reference mark with the dis placement of a movable mark along a stationary scale carrying figures readable even if the mark undergoes frequent and sudden changes in its position for the successive positioning of these different figures in front of a stationary pointer or reference mark. On the other hand, when the rapidity of the variations of the measured magnitude is such that a sutliciently rapid reading of the measured value becomes impossible even in the lastmentioned instance, it is well to replace the direct values of this measured magnitude as they would be indicated by the apparatus as a function of time, with an adequate function of these values the variation of which is slower, such as the maximum and minimum values of the magnitude measured during a relatively long time period, or the average value of the measured values, or the average value of the difference between the measured magnitude and a certain pre-adjusted value.

In order to obtain these effects the time check lamp incorporated in the device, or a plurality of similar lamps, are used for illuminating a mark rotating bodily with the measuring disc past a stationary scale so that it becomes possible on the one hand to read more easily data subject to fast variations, and on the other hand to read the maximum and minimum values of the same data, notably through the medium of movable indices in the form of points sliding along a small rule, which may be set manually on the extreme indications of the apparatus. This type of indication is also advantageous for appreciating,

d by the frequency and intensity of the indications, the intermediate values of the average values of the magnitude measured by the apparatus. 7

The mark utilized to this end may consist of a black line on a clear background (of diffusing or transparent characteristic), or a clear line on a dark or opaque background of the measuring disc, or of a disc or drum driven in synchronism therewith. It may also consist of a line separating the two zones of the disc or drum, one zone being transparent (or diffusing) and the other opaque (or black).

The form of this mark may be that of a radial line on the revolving disc or a line inclined relative to the radius of this disc, or a curve, notably an arithmetic spiral. The form of the scale registering with this rotating mark may also vary. Preferably, it will be circular in the case of the radial form, inclined relative to the disc radius, or curved, for example spiral-shaped notably if the mark itself is spiral-shaped (in order to increase the length of this scale).

The same disc may carry a plurality of these marks, notably a plurality of spirals or curved lines having variable inclinations and thus produce, in addition to the approximate indication of the dimension of the object on one of the extended measurement scale, geared down and more precise indications on other scales. These scales may also be interchangeable by hand or by means of mechanical or electrical control means for adapting them to different ranges of measurements between the different dimensional limits of the measured object.

The locating or reference mark may also consist of the rotary flashing lamp itself or of a mirror or other bright object, for example a polished metal cylinder or sphere illuminated by a fixed lamp. In all the cases contemplated the illumination may be effected by means of one or more flashing lamps.

The apparatus described hereinabove with reference to FIGS. 6-12 of the drawings may be characterized by the following features:

Mounted on the shaft of the modulator disc 2 is a commutator 28 (see FIG. 12) adapted to open or shortcircuit (as will be described hereafter) the output circuit of the electrical mounting or circuit during those time periods in which the disc cannot be used, notably when on the outer periphery of this disc the widest slot is constantly coused to be followed by the narrowest slot. It is also possible to use discs formed with slots providing an even number, for example two, of similar consecutive variations in their width, one variation increasing gradually and the other decreasing also gradually. In this case at lea-st two different and opposite scales will be used, but the commutator device becomes useless. The latter may however be used for periodically recharging a capacitor the discharge of which is adapted, under the influence of the single minimum amplitude signal per revolution of the modulator, to light up the flashing lamp.

The modulator cylinder or disc may be traced graphically and subsequently reproduced by photographic means, and in this case it will consist of a support of transparent material on which a photo-sensitive layer is applied, whereby the shape of the disc slots as well as other details, such as the scales for reading the measured values, may be reproduced.

The electrical mounting or circuit of the device described hereinabove by way of example may comprise, after an amplifier for the photoelectric current issuing from a cell or an electron multiplier, a circuit consisting of a moncstable multivibrator responsive to the signal pulses and the cycle of which is slightly greater than that existing between any two consecutive photoelectric signals. This monostable multivibrator produces a voltage acting as a polarizer in the flashing lamp control circuit to prevent its discharge. Under these conditions it is 

